​Cards Find Ways to Win at D-9 Citrus Classic

By Jared AndersonFebruary 25, 2018

Photo by Jared Anderson​

louisville goes 4-1

Louisville softball concluded their early season tournaments in Orlando at the D-9 Citrus Classic. Following a common theme this year the Cards relied on late game rallies to pull out a couple of their wins. They finished the tournament 4-1.

Game One: Louisville 14, Lehigh 1 (5 1/2 innings)

The bats were hot for this game. Louisville tallied 13 hits and capitalized on two fielding errors by the Mountain Hawks to win in five and a half innings. Caitlin Ferguson went 3-for-3 on the game and Megan Hensley, Jamie Soles, and Celene Funke recorded two hits apiece.

Alison Szydlowski hit her first home run of the season and drove in four runs throughout the game.

Hensley and Danielle Watson combined for three hits, one run, three walks, and four strikeouts in a dominating performance in the pitcher's circle. Watson (5-2) took the win.

Game Two: South Carolina 5, Louisville 3

The #24 Gamecocks proved to be too much to give Louisville their only loss of the tournament. South Carolina capitalized on 10 hits to help pull out the win. The Cards recorded nine hits of their own but scattered them throughout the game. Ferguson, Funke, and Sidney Melton each went 2-for-3 on the game.

Watson and Hensley took the circle again. The duo struck out six while giving up three walks. Watson (5-3) took the loss.

Game Three: Louisville 12, Morgan State 4 (5 innings)

UofL took advantage of a seven run first inning to pull away for their second mercy-rule victory. Funke, Melton, Jamie Soles, and Jenna Jordan all had mutli-hit games. As a team Louisville finished with 13 hits and six walks while striking out just twice.

The pitcher's circle saw some new faces. Paige Schindler and Darrianne Hale got to see their first playing time in the Red and Black. Schindler had a rough outing, lasting less than one inning. Hale saw a little more time, but finished with only one inning from the circle. Watson (6-3) came in and shut down the Bears to win in five innings.

Game Four: Louisville 5, South Alabama 4 (8 innings)

Funke's walk-off fielder's choice drove in Maddy Newman to win in extra innings. Louisville recorded eight hits on the game and were lead by Nicole Pufahl, who went 2-for-2.

The Cards committed three errors, allowing the Jaguars to stay in the game. Hensley and Watson combined for one earned run and giving up three hits. Watson (7-3) took the win.

Game Five: Louisville 4, Harvard 3

UofL relied on another walk-off to win a second straight nail-biter. Soles walked to drive in the game winning run. Louisville used a Harvard error, a hit by pitch, and two walks to secure the comeback in the seventh.

Offensively, Louisville was shut down. Melton, Pufahl, and Hensley combined for the only three hits on the day. The Cards did get six walks on the game while striking out just three times.

Harvard had little success from the plate too. Kyra Snyder and Watson dominated the circle, surrendering four hits and striking out a trio of Crimson players. Watson (8-3) added another win to her rising record.

Louisville improves to 10-4 on the year, concluding their road trip. They come home to Ulmer Stadium for the first time this season on Thursday, The next 14 games will be played at home, weather pending.